Mail-box.



, PATENTED MAR. 22,1904. 0. w. PALMER.

MAIL BUX.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 6, 1993.

.NO MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented March 22, 1904-.

CHARLES W; PALMER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MAIL-BOX- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,038, dated March 22, 1904.

Application filed November 6, 1903. Serial No. 180,072. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES W. PALMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Mail-Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in mail-boxes, and particularly to that class of mail-boxes used for rural delivery in which the box may be opened both by the owner and the mail-carrier.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and economical form of box in which provision is made for protecting and separating the morevaluable mailmatter,such as letters, from the newspapers and packages.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mail-box having a protecting door or casing which may be closedin order to shield both of the compartments.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mail-box in which the letter and package receiving compartments are divided from each other by a movable partition, which may be locked in order to prevent access to the letter-receiving compartment.

With these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter more fully appear,- the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a mailbox constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same, showing the movable partition for separating the two compartments of the box. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the front end of the box,illustrating a slight modification.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

The mail-box forming the subject of the present invention is constructed, preferably, of sheet metal and comprises a bottom section 1, side sections 2, and a stationary end section 3, all rigidly secured together either by rivets or solder. At the front of the box is a hinged dooror cover I, having a handle or pull 5, the door following the general contour of the box and being provided with a marginal groove in order to fit snugly against the open end of the box to exclude moisture and dust. The top of the box is provided with an overhanging spring 6, that is adapted to engage and hold the door in closed position, and by opening this door both the carrier and the owner may gain access to the interior of the box.

The box is divided into two compartments 7 and 8 by means of a movable partition 9, that is pivoted at 10, near its rear end, to the opposite sides of the box, and said partition may be maintained in a horizontal position or may be tilted down until its forward edge rests on the floor of the box in order to permit the ready removal of the letters from the upper compartment. The front of the upper compartment is formed by a stationary plate 11, in which is formed a letter-receiving slot 12, and the lower edge of the plate is rearwardly extended and is provided with a pendent staple 13, that passes through a suitable opening in the movable partition. When the partition is in horizontal or closed position, the hasp of a padlock 14 may be introduced through the staple in order to lock the partition in place, so that it will be impossible for any one to gainaccess to the letter-compartment without employing a key. To the lower side of the partition is secured a knob or handle 15, by means of which the partition may be adjusted to its horizontal position. When released by the removal of the padlock, the partition falls and forms an inclined plane, down which the letters may slide toward the front of the box in convenient position to be removed by the owner or carrier.

The less valuable matter-such as newspapers, packages, or other second, third, or fourth class matter-may be introduced into the lower compartment and removed by merely opening the outer door.

In some cases the construction may be modified in the manner shown in Fig. 3, wherein the outer door terminates at about the line of the partition when in horizontal position and leaves the letter-receiving slot exposed, or the latter may be provided with the usual hinged protecting-flap 16 to exclude moisture. In this case it will be unnecessary to open the outer door to place letters within the box, and thus lessen the work of the carrier.

In devices of this class, especially those employed for the delivery of mail in rural districts, it is advisable to provide means whereby the carrier may sell postal cards, stamps, and the like to the owner of the box, and for this purpose the front door or cover is provided with a stamp, card, and envelop c0mpartment 17 and with a smaller compartment 18, into which the owner may introduce the necessary money for the purchase of stamps or cards, together with instructions as to the character of supplies needed.

On the exterior of the box is pivoted a signal 21, which may be of anydistinctive shape or color, the signal normally occupying a position flat against the side of the box and being raised in order to notify either the owner or the postman of the fact that mail has been deposited in the box.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. In a mail-box, a casing, a horizontallydisposed partition dividing the easing into a plurality of compartments each of which has an opening for the insertion of mail-matter, and means for moving the partition to permit the withdrawal of the mail from both compartments through the opening of the lowermost compartment, the partition, when lowered forming a chute for delivering the mail to the front of the box.

2. In a mail-box, a casing, a movable partition dividing the easing into upper and lower compartments each having an opening for the insertion of mail-matter, the partition being movable by gravity to form a mail-discharge chute for the passage of the mail from the upper compartment through the opening of the lower compartment.

3. In a mail-box, a casinghavingupper and lower compartments each provided with an opening for the insertion of mail, the opening of the lower compartment serving as a withdrawal-opening for the contents of both compartments, and a movable partition separating the said compartments, said partition when lowered forming an inclined chute along which the mail from the upper compartment may travel to the front opening.

4. In a mail-box, a casing, a pivoted horizontal partition dividing the easing into upper and lower compartments each of which has a separate mail-insertion opening, said partition being movable to form an inclined delivery-chute for the mail of the upper compartment.

5. In a mail-box, a casing, a pivotallymounted horizontal partition dividing the easing into upper and lower mail-compartments each having a separate mail-insertion opening, said partition being movable to form an inclined delivery-chute for the contents of the upper compartment, and means for normally locking said partition in an approximatelyhorizontal position.

6. In a mail-box, a casing, ahorizontal partition pivoted to the casing at a point near the rear end thereof and dividing said easing into upper and lower compartments each of which has a separate insertion-opening, said partition being movable to form an inclined chute for delivering the contents of the upper compartment to the front end of the lower compartment.

7. In a mail box, a casing, a pivotallymounted horizontal partition dividing the easing into a plurality of compartments of which the lower is open and the upper is provided with a mail-insertion opening, alocking means for holding the partition in approximatelyhorizontal position, and an external door for closing the opening of the lower compartment.

8. In a mail-box, a casing having an open front end, a hinged door for closing said end, a vertical plate arranged at theupper portion of the box and provided with a letter-receiw ing opening, said plate having a rearwardlyextending flange, a partition pivoted at its rear end to the side walls of the box and adapted to fit under the flange, a staple carried by the flange and extending through an opening in the front end of the partition, a locking means for engaging the staple, and auxiliary compartments arranged on the movable door, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES W. PALMER.

Witnesses:

J. H. JooHUM, Jr., J. Ross COLHOUN. 

